Brake-beam.



UNITED STATES' Patented February 14, 1905.

PATENTl OFFICE.

FREDERICK R. CORNWALL,IOF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO CHI- CAGO RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BRAKE-BEAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 782,599, dated February 14, 1905.

Application filed December 5` 1904. Serial No. 235,544. i

To all whom, t nuty concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK R. CORN- WALL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvevment in Brake-Beams, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which it ap'pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofA this specification, in which- Figure` l is a plan view of my improved brake-beam. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Eig. 1. Eig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the compression member, and Figs. 'and 6 are similar Views showing modified forms of the compression member.

rIhis invention relates to a new and useful improvement in brake-beams of that type shown in patent granted to Charles F. Huntoon, No. 7 60,868, dated May 24, 1904, the object being to construct a brake-beam whose compression member is in the form of a channel having diver-ging legs or members whereby the bulging stresses to which this structure is subjected under load are counteracted by the strains tending to preserve its original shape. In the preferred form of my invention .the compression member is preferably a commercially-rolled form whose central portion in cross-section is made somewhat thicker than the legs, whereby the extra material so added tends to materially strengthenv the structure. Bulbs may also be provided on the legs and the central portion of the member thickened or made of uniform thickness, as shown in the modified forms. In addition to this another obj ect is to spread the legs slightly at the center of the beam, so as to increase its strength in a vertical direction when the beam is in position under a car. The spreading of the legs at the center of the beam does not materially lessen the resisting powers of the compression member when .subjected to the usual strains and the load is applied through the strut or post; but the flaring legs add materially to the strength ofthe beam in resisting loads on the compression member applied in a vertical direction. Increasing the strength of the beam so as to resist vertically-applied loads is required in the specifications of some railroads, and incidentally it will be noticed that by so increasing the strength of the beam at this point to resist vertically-applied loads the torsional resistance of the beam is likewise increased. This latter or torsional strain isthe result of an unequal wearing of the brake-shoes and other causes well known in practice.

It will be observed from an ins-pection of Figs. 4, 5, and 6 that all of the forms of the compression member there illustrated are well adapted to meet the demands above setforth.

In the drawings, l indicates the compression member; 2, the brake-heads fitted on the ends thereof; 3, the filler-blocks fitting within the ends of the channel and provided with openings for the passage of the tension-rod 4.

5 indicates nuts at the ends of the tensionrod for tightening the same and placing a camber in the compression member.

6 is a strut or brake-lever post whose outer end is provided with a seat for the tensionrod and in whose inner end lis formed an eye,

so constructed as to take-in the U-shaped compression member, which is ared at this point. This eye is provided with an internal lug 7, tting between the legs of the compression member for spacing and holding said legs apart, while a wedge or key is driven down through an opening adjacent the eye, so as to bear against the legs and hold the strut in position against accidental displacement.l

By referring to Fig. 4 it will be noted that the compression member 1 is thickened at its middle portion, the increased amount of metal materially strengthening the legs of said member and also affording an extended area at the end of the compression member where it is seated in the brake-head or thrust-block, as the case may be. While I have shown the compression member seated directly in the brake-head, it is obvious that said compressibn member can fit in the ends of a thrust-block, such as shown in the Huntoon patent, No. 769,384, dated September 6, 1904. This compression member has its legs spread apart at the center of the beam, so as to increase the resisting'powers of the compression member against vertically-applied loads, and this iaring materially strengthens the compression member against torsional or twisting strains.

In Fig. 5 the compression member has bulbs l formed on its legs, which not only increases the seating area of the compression member in the thrust-block, but also adds to the strength of the compression member against buckling tendencies.

In Fig. 6 the compression member is formed with an increased central portion and bulbs on its legs, this figure illustrating a cross-section practically combining the advantages of the distribution oi' the metal shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

I am aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a brake-beam, the combination with a U-shaped compression member having substantially straight Haring legs which are tapered thickest at their base portions, a tension member, and a strut; substantially as described.

2. In a brake-beam, the combination with a strut and a tension member, a U-shaped compression member Whose central portion is thicker than the legs thereof; substantially as described.

3. In a brake-beam, the combination with a strut and a tension member, of a U-shaped compression member having substantially straight iiaring legs with bulbs at the edges thereof; substantially as described.

4. In a brake-beam, the combination with a strut and a tension member, of a U-shaped compression member having substantially straight i'laring legs, the middle portion of said compression member being thickened and the edges of said legs beingprovided with bulbs; substantially as described.

5. In a brake-beam, the combination with a strut anda tension member, a U-shaped compression member of uniform cross section throughout and whose legs occupy a greater angular relation to each other at the middle of the beam than at the ends thereof; substanJ tially as described.

6. In a brake-beam, the combination with a strut and a tension member, of a U-shaped compression member ot' commercially-rolled material, the legs of said compression member being iared in the plane of the strut to increase the strength of the beam in the resistance of vertically-applied loads or torsional strains; substantially as described.

7. In a brake-beam, the combination with a tension member and a strut, of a cambered,U shaped compression member whose middle portion is of a thickness diferent from thatof the legs which extend therefrom, and means for maintaining the camber in said compression member; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature, in the presence ot' two witnesses, this 2d day of December, 1904.

FREDERICK R. CORNWALL. 

